Lagos Senator’s Ogun West APC senatorial ticket faces challenges as lawyer drags INEC to court

The Ogun West APC Senatorial ticket of  current Lagos West Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola a.k.a ‘Yayi’ has been challenged in court as three politicians have sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

They are seeking an interim injuction restraining  the electoral body from recognizing Adeola’s candidature.

The plaintiffs — Adebiyi Adeyinka Tajudeen, Olatumoke Ibrahim and Muideen Akintade — had approached the Federal High Court in Abeokuta, urging the court to also stop the All Progressives Congress (APC) from submitting Adeola’s name as the candidate of the party for the 2023 election in the state.

In the suit filed by the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Mr Yakubu Eleto, they averred that the defendant as a serving senator representing Lagos State at the National Assembly is not qualified to seek for the party’s ticket for Ogun West Senatorial District ticket at the same time.

The defendants in the suit are  Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, All Progressives Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Persecondnews reports that the Counsel to the plaintiffs brought the motion exparte dated June 14, 2022, under order 28: Rule 2 and 38, Rule 1 of Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 and under the Inherent Jurisdiction of the Honourable Court.

He asked among others for: “An order of interim injuction restraining the 2nd defendant from submitting the name of the 1st defendant to the 3rd defendant as the flagbearer of the 2nd defendant in the general election of the Federal Republic of Nigeria schedule for 2023.

“While the 1st defendant is still a serving Senator representing the Senatorial District of the Applicants at the National Assembly which is in breach of the provisions of Sections 6(6)c,65 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“And Article 2,9 and 20 of the All Progressives Congress constitution Section 14(3) of the Federal Character Commission Act and Section 30 of the Electoral Act 2022 pending the hearing and determination of the originating processes. Such further or others as this Honourable court may deem fit.”

Persecondnews also recalls that the current Senator Tolulope Odebiyi representing Ogun West was elected in 2019 on All Progressives Congress platform.

Odebiyi, a one-term senator and son of the late Chief Jonathan Odebiyi, a second republic senator and Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s ally, is being “pushed out” by Senator Adeola, who has been serving as lawmaker in Lagos since 1999 and currently a two-term senator.